Monday afternoon was pay day for 125 Russellville High School students who scored a 3, 4, or 5 on advanced placement (AP) tests in English, Math and Science.

On Monday the 10th-12th grade students from last year who scored a 3, 4 or 5 on the AP tests for English, Math and Science received $100 gift certificates for each test. In all, 180 gift cards with a total value of $18,000 was handed out to achieving students.

RHS is part of the Arkansas Advanced Initiative in Math and Science (AAIMS), which aims to increase the testing scores on AP placement tests and the interest in math and science among students.

RHS senior, and $100 Visa card recipient, Merideth Smith, said she valued the AAIMS program because it gave students a tangible goal to reach.

“I think it’s very good because it gives students a tangible reward for working hard in academics,” she said. “There might be some students who aren’t looking at college that will take the courses because of the monetary incentive and then change their mind about attending college.”

AAIMS President Tommy Sue Anthony told the parents, students, board members and members of the community in attendance that the United States as a whole needed to improve in the areas of math and science to stay competitive in the world.

AAIMS is funded nation wide by a $123 million Exxon-Mobile grant and Arkansas is one of six states in the nation to receive a grant through the program.

Laura Binz, the high school gifted, talented and advance placement coordinator, said this is the fourth year RHS has participated in the program. AP classes allow high school students to earn college credit when the students score high enough on the AP exam, which in turn helps prepare the students for college.

Anthony said students with AP credits on their high school transcripts typically earn a one point higher grade point average the first year of college and earn degrees in a shorter amount of time. Both of which add up to savings for students and parents.

John Montgomery, parent of senior Mia Montgomery, said he liked the idea of the monetary incentive for academic achievement, as well as the assembly to acknowledge all the hard work of the students.

“It’s really important to acknowledge excellence in academics,” Montgomery said. “Money will always incentivize the students and teachers. It’s an interesting program and I’m glad Mia was able to be part of it.”

RHS principal Sammy Ussery said the awards assembly was for one reason only, to honor the students’ achievements.

Ussery encouraged the students to take what they learned in AP classes and apply it to everyday life in every way possible.

“Reach for the stars,” Ussery told the students. “You may not reach them, but you won’t end up with a handful of mud.”

Lt. Gov. Mark Darr reinforced the value of education when he addressed the students.

Darr told those in attendance Monday that when he finished college he owed $50,000 in student loans.

“Take advantage of all the opportunities in your school system,” Darr said. “In life you can choose to be anything you want to be. The work your doing right now, is cutting back on the work you have to do in college. You can be leaders today — in your school, in your homes and in your church. People are looking to you to be an example.”